Shoe-tree



Oct. 16, 1928. 1,687,558

F. HARROLD SHOE TREE Filed June 30, 1927 snvenfoz lw og M? "Patented Oct. 16, 1928.

UNITED STATES IB EDRICK HABBOLD, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO.

SHOE-TREE.

Application filed June 30, 1927. Serial No. 202,844.

This invention relates'to a shoe tree. It is well-known to thoseskilled in the art that devices are being used which are designated as shoe trees whichprovide means for stretching a shoe to hold the shoe in proper form when the shoe is not being worn to revent and counteract the shrinking ofthe lieather which causes wrinkles therein making it uncomfortable or more or less painful to wear the shoes and which wrinkles affect the pleasing appearance of the shoes causing them to look unsightly on account of the irregular form and wrinkles formedtherein,

specially as the leather dries out.

It is alsowell-known that the types used in the art for this purpose are usually inserted within the shoe closing up the inside of the shoe more or less and preventing the air from circulating therethrough to dry up any moisture that might be therein or on the shoes which causes an unsanitary condition inside of the shoe; 1, I

One of the objects of the invention isto provide a means for attaching the device'fto the sole ofthe shoe and shank thereof, so as to provide means for stretching the upper part of the shoe and sole of the shoe under tension and thereby draw the leather of the upper taut and tends to keep and draw the sole substantially straight under tension in order to maintain the shoe and sole in proper form.

Another object is to prevent wrinkles from forming in the upper part of the shoe or Warping the sole when not being worn and if the wrinkles are formed in the upper part of the shoe or if the sole is warped to draw out the wrinkles or Warped sole by tension exerted thereon thereby maintaining a smooth and regular surface on the upper part of the shoe as well as to maintain the sole of the shoe substantially straight.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for stretching the upper part of the shoe and sole of the shoe that is adapted to be attached on the outside of the shoe, that is, to the sole thereof rather than inside of the shoe so as to permit free circulation of air on theinside of the shoe to absorb any moisture therein or on the shoe to provide'for better sanitary condition when the shoe is not worn and more rapid drying of the shoe.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for attaching clamping pressure to clamp the device to a 5 0e and members to the yielding and resilient parts ofthe frame of the device in such a manner as to permit them'to be moved to and from each other under tension for the purpose ofv adjustment and clamping same under tension to the shank of the shoe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unit tension means that will simultaneously exert at the same time a .ielding also exert a pressure for holding the sole of the shoe in proper shape or form by stretching same thereb counteracting the tendency of the shoe to s rink out of shape.

These and other objects are attained by the device illustrated in. the accompanying drawingin which Fig. 1 is'a plan view of the invention showing the device assembled in full lines in nor mal position and an adjusted position of the resllient members and clamping members when moved preparatory to and attaching the device to the shank of the sole of a shoe in dotted lines. v v

Fig. 2 is a side View of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a shoe, showng in full lines the device assembled engagmg the tip of the sole of the shoe at one end and the opposite end carryin clamping members, in position to be move under ten S1011 to engage the shank of the sole of the shoe, as shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is an end View of Fig. 1 looking 1n the direction of the arrow as indicated by numerals 1 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views of the body portions of'the clamping members which have proyided therein slots-and apertures to receive shouldered rivets or the like.

The device is preferably made of one unit of spring wire which is bent at the center to form a rounded portionl and two portions 2 and 3 extending from the rounding portion in spaced apart and parallel relation to each other as shown in Fig; 1.

Both portions 2 and 3 commencin at the cent to the ends of the resilient members 6 and 7 by ortions made integral to provide cli s 10 which embrace the ends thereof and ho d the same rigidly adjacent to the ends of the resilient members 6 and 7 as shown in and on a plane to the body portion of the clamping members 11 and 12.

The lips 15 and 16 are adapted to extend over and engage the top of the shank of the sole of the shoe as shown in Fig. 3. The clamping members 11 and 12 are arranged to slide upon each other in overlapping relation and are provided with alined slots 17 and 18.

To hold the clamping members in position and in sliding relation to each other shouldered rivets or the like 19 and 20 are provided. The rivet 19 is attached rigidly to the bracket 8 at one end.

The body portion then passes through the slot 17 formed in the clamping member 12 and then extends into an aperture 21 formed near the end of the clamping) member 11. The parts are held in lace ythe head of the rivet. The body 0 the rivet is made of such a length as will permit the clamping member 12 to slide or move between the top face of the bracket 8 and the lower face of the clamping member 11. The rivet 19 connects thereby all of the parts of the clamping means at one side for sliding movement of the clamps.

The rivet 20 arranged at the opposite side is rigidly attached to the bracket 9 then passes through an aperture 21' formed in the member 12, thence through the slot 18 formed in the clamping member 11 which slides on the clamping member 12. The heads of the rivets 19 and 20 hold the clamping members in close contact to each other on each side thereof during the sliding operation of the clamping members when they are being actuated for adjusting the clamping members to fit the shank of the sole of a shoe.

The assemblage, construction and ogration of the clamping members as descri (1 permits the user'of the device to grasp the resilient members 7 .and 6 in his hand and counteract a tension thereof by pressing same to move inwardly toward each other. This movement in turn forces the-clamping members and. their turned ends 13 and 14 outward or away from each other until they are properl adjusted to fit the shank of the sole of the s oe. When the resilient members are released the clamping members automatically clamp the tree to the shank of the sole'of the shoe under tension.

A bracket 22 is provided on the frame hav-' ing portions forming clips 23.and 24 which are turned around the portions 2 and 3 of the frame embracing same and holding bracket rigidly thereto. A portion of one end of the bracket is turned at right angles to the body portion thereof as shown at 25 and. the

end thereof is bent inwardly to form a Ii 26 which is adapted to engage the ti 27 o the sole of theshoe when it is desire to attach the device to the shoe for the purpose intended.

The eye 28 formed by the loop can be used for hanging up the device with the shoe attaehed thereto when not in use. The upper part of the shoe is indicated by reference numeral 29 and the sole of the shoe by reference numeral 30.

In applying the device for the purpose intended the lip 26 is first engaged over the top of the tip of the shoe as indicated in Fig. 3 leaving the resilient members 6 and 7 ex tending over the soleof the shoe as shown in Fig. 3.

The resilient members which carry the clamping members are then forced upward under tension to a'position that will permit them to engage the shank of the sole of the shoe as shown in Fig. 3. In attaching the shoe tree to the shoe resilient members 6 and 7 are forced or pressed upward over the ball 31 of the sole of the shoe under tension and at the same time the resilient members are also pressed inwardly under tension thereby moving the clampin members outwardly until they are adjuste to fit the shank of the shoe and then released allowin the clamping members to automatically clamp the device or shoe tree to the. shank of the sole of the shoe under yielding tension as shown in Fig. 3.

To remove the clamping device from the shoe the resilient yieldin members are pressed toward each other en arging the space etween the clamps and the device is then readily removed from the shank of the shoe and sole thereof.

Attention is called to the fact that the frame and resilient yielding members thereof are made from one unit or piece of sprin wire, the resilient members performing dua functions, that is, they provide means for carrying clampin members in such a manner as to permit the (ilamping members to be adjusted to the shank of the shoe under tension and also provide means for exerting a tension pressure on the sole of the shoe to maintain same in normal position which in turn stretches the leather forming the upper part of the shoe removing any wrinkles formed therein and tending to prevent warping of the sole of the shoe when the shoe is not being worn. The tension of the resilient members can be increased or decreased as desired by using different sizes of wire for constructing the frame. The device is also held and supported in position on the shoe by the lips 15 and 16 formed on the clamping members and the lip 26 formed on the toe bracket.

The rivets 19 and 20 if desired can be made having the ends thereof that are connected I to the brackets 8 and 9 smaller in diameter than the body portion to provide thereon a shoulder to rest upon the brackets and leave suflicient stock at the end of the reduced portion extending through the bracket to rivet the bracket thereto.

Attention is called to the fact that the device can be made with a minimum amount of material and labor. The device shown on drawings represent one means of applying the invention. It is to be understood, however, that other structural or immaterial difierences can-be made in the construction of the device without deviating from the principle involved in the invention.

I claim:

1. In a shoe straightener and shaper, a frame provided with resilient members, means secured to the frame to engage the tip of the sole of the shoe, clamping members secured to the resilient members of the frame and arranged to slide in overlapping relation to each other, means to hold the clamping members in position on and in close contact with the shank of the sole of the shoe during the stretching movement thereof.

2. In a shoe straightener and shaper, a frame provided with resilient members, means secured to the frame to engage the tip of the sole of the shoe, clamping members secured to the resilient members of the frame and arranged to slide in overlapping relation to each other, means for holding the clamping members in position on and in close contact with the shank of the sole of the shoe during the stretching movement thereof, the resilient members of the frame of the tree being adapted to impart movement to the clamping members under tension.

3. In a shoe straightener and shaper, a frame made of one unit and provided with resilient members which are spaced apart from each other, clamping members carried by the resilient members and arranged to slide on each other, means to hold the clamping members in alined position and a bracket provided with a lip to engage the tip of the sole of the shoe.

4. In a shoe straightener and shaper, a frame made of one unit which is provided with resilient members which are spaced apart from each other, clamping members carried by the resilient members and arrangedto slide on each other, means to hold the clampin members in alined position, a bracket provided with a li to engage the tip being adapted to yieldingly clamp the shoe tree to the shank of the sole of a shoe.

5. In a shoe straightener and shaper, a frame made ofone unit of steel wire which is provided with resilient members which are spaced apart from each other, clamping members carried by the resilient members and arranged to slide on each other, means to hold the clamping members in alined position, a bracket provided with a lip to engage the tip of the sole of the shoe, the resilient members being adapted to yieldingly clamp the shoe tree to the shank of the sole of a shoe, said resilient members also being adapted at the same time to exert a tension pressure on the sole of the shoe to maintain same substantially straight and stretch the upper to maintain and keep the shoe in form.

6. In a shoe straightener and shaper, a frame composed of spring wire bent to form a loop at one end and having resilient members diverging from the loop under tension, clamping members attached to the diverging resilient members, means to connect the clamping members to permit sliding movement thereof under tension over each other and a bracket secured to the loop having a lip formed therein to engage the tip of the s 0e.

7. In a shoe straightener and shaper, a frame composed of spring wire bent to form of the sole of the shoe, sai resilient members a loop at one end and havingresilient memloop and adapted toengage the tip of the sole of the shoe, said resilient members being shoe and clamped to the shank of the sole thereof under tension to maintain a pressure upon the sole and stretch the upper thereof.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FREDRICK HARROLD.

adapted to be pressed over the sole of the v 

